Instrumentation Technologist

Make electrical and electronic components.

Quick Stats

Outlook

Good

Salary Range

$31,000 – $88,000

Data from U.S. Department of Labor

What do Instrumentation Technologists do?

The world of engineering is complex and multifaceted. No one can do anything alone. While Engineers are responsible for a lot of theory and design, it’s workers like the Instrumentation Technologist who are on the front lines, rolling up their sleeves and getting things done. As an Instrumentation Technologist, you’re responsible for designing and carrying out tests on devices, collecting data, and reporting back to Engineers to help them repair, improve, or upgrade a product.

Every day, you face new and invigorating challenges. Your unique understanding of instruments, experiments, and engineering principles help you contribute to the team’s ultimate goals. You work in a laboratory or fabrication setting, dealing with delicate electronic devices in various stages of their development. Given the delicate nature of electrical and electronic components, you need to follow directions very closely when handling them.

You report directly to a lead Engineer or Supervisor, so good cooperation and communications skills are vital. If you thrive on having new and different tasks to do every day, and if you’re detail-oriented, then a job as an Instrumentation Technologist could be right for you.

Most Instrumentation Technologists work standard 40-hour weeks, but when a big project deadline nears or a problem proves particularly difficult to crack, be prepared for some overtime. The good feeling you get from finding the solution to a difficult problem is what gets you out of bed in the morning. While many use this job as a stepping stone to a formal engineering position later on, its unique, hands-on aspects appeal so much to some that they make it a lifelong career.

Should I be an Instrumentation Technologist?

You should have
an
associate's
degree or higher and share these traits:

Persistent:
You keep pushing through, even when faced with tough obstacles.

High Achiever:
You love the challenge of tackling difficult work.

Team Player:
You're able to listen, communicate, and work with tons of different people.